Clock assembly means



Aug. 12, 1941. A. A. MARTIN CLOCK ASSEMBLY MEANS Filed May 24, 1959 Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFlCE CLQCK ASSEMBLY MEANS Angus A. Martin, Winsted, Conn, assignor to William L. Gilbert Clock Corporation, VVinsted, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Appiication May 24, 1939, Serial No. 275,431

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to clocks and more particularly to improved assembly means therefor.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved means for assembling and supporting the time movement frame in a clock casing, wherein said means permits the ready assembling or disassembling of the structure in a minimum number of simple operations,

A still further aim is to provide improved means as above indicated whereby, when the clock is assembled it is characterized by its neatness of appearance, ruggedness of construction and its inexpensiveness of manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a rear elevational view of a clock embodying the invention herein with portions broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assembled clock members;

Fig. 3' is an exploded perspective view of the members of Fig. 2 prior to the assembling thereof;

Fig, 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but of the embodiment of Fig. 5; and

Fig, '7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line l'l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a clock A having a dial back ill, provided with a rearwardly extending rim portion [2; a frame comprising inner and outer symmetrical members I 4 and I5 for carrying the usual time and alarm mechanism (not shown) and a casing l6 adapted to fit over the frame and telescope onto the rearwardly extending rim portion l2 of the dial back It).

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 the time'movement frame members 14 and I5 are properly positioned and held relative to one another and also supported on the dial back In by a plurality of pillars I 8, extending through and secured within aligned apertures in the dial back and frame members. As the pillars l8 and their cooperative arrangement with the members mounted thereon are the same for each, the description hereinafter given with relation to one is equally applicable to all.

The pillar I 8 is formed of aluminum or any suitable metal which is softer than the frame members, for reasons hereinafter apparent, to provide (as clearly seen in Fig. 3) an inner portion 2! of reduced diameter and an outer portion 22 of enlarged diameter separated by a circumferential shoulder 24 of intermediate diameter. The inner end of the pillar l8 terminates in a securing head 26 having a circular portion 21 and a flat portion 29 and the outer end of the pillar terminates in a like securing head 28 also having a circular portion 30 and a flat portion 32.

In order to support and properly space the frame members l4 and 15 relative on the pillar, the frame member I4 is provided with a suitable circular aperture 34, which aperture has a diameter slightly greater than that of the intermediate pillar shoulder 24 and less than the inwardly facing end or abutment 36 of the enlarged portion 22. With this construction, the reduced end 29 of the pillar may be inserted through the aperture 34 of the frame member l4 until the shoulder 24 extends through the aperture and the frame memberstops against the endabutment 36 of the enlarged portion 22. When so positioned the portion of the shoulder 24- which projects beyond the frame member is peened over to provide a flange 31, which flange cooperates with the end abutment 36 of the enlarged portion 22 to define a groove 38 and thus rotatably mount the pillar IS on the frame member M.

The frame-member i5 is also provided with an aperture 4!] having its radial center in alignment with the radial center of aperture 34 and adapted to receive the outer securing head 28 of the pillar Hi. The aperture 40 however, is cut to provide a circular rim portion 44 and a substantially flat rim portion 46 corresponding respectively to the circular portion 30 and a fiat portion 32 of the pillar securing head 28,

The rim of aperture 40 is then mutilated by cutting an opening 48 in such manner that a part of the fiat rim portion 46 is cut away to produce a throat 49 between the aperture 40 and opening 43 whereby the fiat rim portion 46 terminates at the throat in a cutting edge 5| and is arcuately cut away as shown at 5 I in order to make the cutting edge 5| more effective.

With this arrangement the pillar securing head 28 is inserted through the aperture 40 until it steps against the end abutment 23 of enlarged portion 22 with the flat surface 32 thereof underlying the flat rim portion 45 and extending across the throat 49. To secure the two, the pillar I8 is then rotated in a clockwise direction whereupon the cutting edge 5| of the harder material of the frame member will gouge into the softer material of the pillar l8, see Fig. 4, to produce a groove 53 in the pillar securing head, with the metal removed from the groove extending into the opening 48. In this manner the portion of the frame member l5 defined by the arcuated portion 5| of the flat rim portion 46 and a continuation of the circular portion 44 (as indicated by dot and dash lines in Fig. l) in effect constitutes a tongue 52 which projects into the aperture 48 and enters the scored grooves 53 in the securing head 28, thus securely locking and positioning the frame member I5 on the pillar 18.

With the frame members l4 and i5 secured together by the pillars (and the clock works mounted therein) the assembled works is then secured to the dial back If). To do this the dial back Ill is provided with a rear offset 56 having an aperture 58 therethrough of like contour to aperture 49 of the frame member l5 and with the radial center of the circular rim portion 59 thereof aligned with the radial center of circular rim portion 44 of the aperture 49. However, the flat portion iii] of aperture is angularly advanced through approximately 45 relative to the fiat portion 56 of aperture 40 whereby it will be in alignment with the flat portion 29 of the inner securing head 26 of the pillar 8 permitting ready insertion therethrough. When so inserted the pillar ting edge 6! of aperture 53 will score the head 25 to produce a groove into which moves the arcuated portion 6! of the flat portion 68 similarly to the action of 5| and 5! of the back member l5. the parts are thus assembled they are properly spaced from one another and are rigidly suported from the dial back IQ. If it is desired to remove the works it is only necessary to rotate the pillars l3 counter-clockwise through 45 whereupon the flat surface 29 of the inner heads 26 will be aligned with the flat surfaces 60 of the apertures 58 whereupon the frame and works carried thereby may be withdrawn from the casmg. frame member l5 may likewise be removed.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7 the pillar 62 is provided with a reduced inner end portion 64, and an outer securing head 55,

having a circular portion 68, a flat portion Hi 1::

and spaced chordal grooves 72 and M angularly arranged to the fiat surface 79. The reduced portion 54 is adapted to extend through an aperture 16 of slightly greater diameter provided in the inner frame member 18 whereupon the end of the reduced portion is peened over to provide a groove 30, thus rotatably mounting the pillar on the frame member 18.

To secure the outer frame member 82 there is provided therein an aperture 84 having a round rim portion 86 and a fiat rim portion 88 corresponding respectively to the round and flat portions of the securing head 65, but of sufficient size to permit the securing head 66 to be inserted therethrough until the frame member [8 is again rotated whereupon the cut- As readily seen in Fig. 2, when f By further rotation of the pillars the back abuts against the outwardly facing surface 98 at the base of the securing head 56. The pillar is now rotated to cause the portion of the frame member adjacent the flat rim portion 88 which, as in the previous embodiment, in effect constitutes a tongue, to enter into the groove 12.

In this embodiment the case back 92 is also secured to the supporting pillar 62 and as indicated, it is provided with an aperture 94 of like contour to the aperture 84 but with the fiat portion 96 thereof offset angularly approximately 45 to the fiat rim portion of the aperture 84. Thus, after the frame member has been assembled and the pillar rotated, the flat surface If] thereof will be in alignment with the flat surface 96 of the apertures 9 thereof, whereupon the securing head 68 may be inserted therethrough and the pillar again rotated to secure the case back in position.

In order to secure the frame to the dial back 98 the latter ha struck therefrom a plurality of rearwardly extending legs I09, each terminating in a reduced tab I62 adapted to extend through a suitable opening I04 in the frame member IE3. When so inserted the tab I02 may be bent over, as indicated in Fig. 5 to secure the frame in position on the dial back.

Obviously the pillars disclosed in the first embodiment could also be utilized for mounting the case back in addition to the other members and in the second embodiment for mounting the dial back as well as the other members, it being apparent in both embodiments that the pillars are adapted to be rotatably mounted in one of the members and thereafter rotatable therein to interlock the cooperating tongue and groove connections to secure the other members thereon, and thus properly space and secure all of the members in proper relative positions to one another.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departin from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim a my invention:

1. In a clock a pair of members adapted to be secured together, a plurality of pillar rotatably mounted on one of said members and cooperating tongue and groove connections between said other member and said pillars for securing said other member to said pillars.

2. In a clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of the clock, said frame comprising a pair of frame members, a plurality of pillars rotatably mounted in one of said frame members and cooperating tongue and groove connections between said other frame member and said pillars for securing said other frame member to said pillars.

3. In a clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of the clock, said frame comprising a pair of frame members, a plurality of pillars each having one end rotatably mounted in one of said members and having locking grooves adjacent its other end, said other member having apertures for receiving the other end of said pillarsand tongues extending intosa-id apertures and positioned in'saidgrooves for securing said second member to said pillars.

4. In a clock a pair of members adapted to be secured together, a pluralityof pillars each having one end rotatably mounted on one of said members and having a securing head at the other end, said securing head having a circular portion and a fiat portion and a chordal groove arranged at an angle tosaid fiat portion, said other member having a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a circular rim portion and a fiat rim portion corresponding to said circular portions and flat portions of the securing heads, said flat portion of each frame aperture being positioned within the chordal groove of one of said securing heads for securing said other member to said pillars.

5. In a clock a dial back, a pair of members for mounting the time movement of the clock and common means for securing and properly spacing said members together, said means being rotatable in one of said members and extending through an aperture in said other member and cooperating means carried by said other member and common means for interlocking same upon rotation of said common means.

6. In a clock a dial back, a pair of frame mem bers for mounting the time movement of the clock, means for supporting said frame members on said dial back and relative to one another and comprising a plurality of pillars, said pillars being rotatably mounted in one of said frame members and having their ends extending therefrom and through said dial back and said other frame member and cooperating means adapted upon rotation of said pillars Within said frame member to interlock said pillars to said dial back and other frame member.

7. In a clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of a clock, said frame comprising a frame plate, a plurality of pillars having one end rotatably mounted on said plate and having a non-circular end portion at the other end thereof, a second frame plate having a plurality of non-circular apertures for receiving said noncircular end portions, said pillars each having a shoulder adjacent its end portion serving as an abutment for said second plate and having a recess in said non-circular end portion for receiving a portion of said second plate adjacent said apertures upon slight rotation of said pillars to lock said second plate to said pillars.

8. In a clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of a clock, said frame comprising a frame plate, a plurality of pillars having one end rotatably mounted on said plate, said pillars having a shoulder adjacent the other end thereof and a substantially cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter adjacent said shoulders provided with a flat side surface having a transversely inwardly extending recess therein, and a second frame plate having a plurality of apertures corresponding substantially to the cross sectional shape of said end portions of said pillars, said second plate abutting said shoulders and having portions adjacent said apertures adapted to extend into said recesses, upon slight rotation of said pillars to lock said second plate to said pillars.

9. In a clock, a frame for the time movement of a clock including a front plate and a plurality of pillars rotatably mounted on said plate, and a clock case having a back provided with a plural ity of apertures, said pillars extending through said apertures and having means thereon for removably attaching said clock case to saidpillars upon rotation of said pillars.

10. Ina clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of a clock including a front plate and a plurality of pillars each having one end rotatably mounted on said plate andhaving a noncircular end portion at the other end thereof, and a clock case having a back provided with a plurality of non-circular apertures for receiving said non-circular end portions, said end portions each having a recess therein for receiving a portion of the back of said case adjacent said apertures to lock said case to said pillars.

11. In a clock, a frame for mounting the time movement of a clock including a front frame plate and a plurality of pillars having one end rotatably mounted on said plate, said pillars having a substantially cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter provided with a flat side surface having a transversely inwardly extending recess therein, and a clock case having a back provided with apertures corresponding substantially to the cross sectional shape of said end portions, portions of the back of said case adjacent said apertures extending into said recesses in said pillars to secure said case to said pillars.

12. In a clock, a frame plate, a plurality of pillars having one end thereof rotatably mounted on said plate, a second plate having a plurality of apertures, the free ends of said pillars extending through said apertures in said second plate and said second plate and pillars having cooperating parts for locking said second plate to said pillars, and a clock case having a back provided with a plurality of apertures, the free ends of said pillars extending through said apertures in the back of said case and said case and said pillars having cooperating part for locking the back of said case to said pillars,

13. In a clock, a front frame plate, a plurality of pillars each having one end thereof rotatably mounted on said plate, said pillars each having a shoulder adjacent the other end thereof and a substantially cylindrical end portion of reduced diameter adjacent said shoulder provided with a flat side surface having a transversely inwardly extending recess therein, a back frame plate having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the cross sectional shape of said end portions of said pillars, said second plate abutting said shoulders and having portions adjacent said apertures adapted to extend into said recesses and lock said second plate to said pillars upon slight rotation of said pillars, and a clock case having a back provided with a plurality of apertures, corresponding substantially to the cross sectional shape of said end portions, positioned to receive said end portions after said slight rotation, said end portions extending through said apertures in the back of said case and having recesses for receiving portions of the back of said case adjacent said apertures upon further slight rotation of said pillars to lock said case tosaid pillars.

14. In a clock a pair of frame members, means for supporting said frame members relative to one another and comprising a plurality of pillars, said pillars being freely rotatable in one of said frame members and extending through apertures in the other frame member, and cooperating means adapted upon rotation of the pillars Within said one of said frame members to interlock the pillars to said other frame member.

15. In a clock a pair of frame members, a plurality of pillars rotatably secured in one of said frame members, cylindrical ends on said pillars, each end having a chordal flat thereon, and insertable within corresponding openings in the other of said frame members, a cutting edge adjacent each opening for cutting a groove in the mating pillar, said cutting edge being retained in said groove.

16. In a clock a pair of frame members, a plurality of pillars, each pillar having one end freely, rotatably mounted in one of said frame members and having a securing head at the other end, said securing head comprising a mutilated cylindrical end portion, said other frame member having a plurality of apertures mating with said securing heads, and a cutting point extending inwardly toward each aperture for scoring the securing head inserted therein.

1'7. In a clock a pair of frame members, a plurality of pillars freely, rotatably mounted in one of said frame members, cylindrical heads on the co-extending ends of said pillars, each head having a chordal fiat thereon, substantially circular apertures in the other of said frame members mating with said pillar heads, a cutting point extending inwardly adjacent each aperture for cutting a groove in the pillar with which it mates when said pillar is rotated therein.

ANGUS A. MARTIN, 

